What exactly is an Electric Water Heater?

Written by

Is an Electric Water Heater right for you?

South Windsor Hot Water Heater

Water heaters can heat water in many different ways. Many water heaters use natural gas to heat water. Some older type of homes have oil boilers that heat water as well as heat the home. One of the newest types of water heaters use electricity to heat the water. These water heaters come in two major different types.

The first type of water heat uses electric heating elements to heat water in a insulated container. This type of electric water heater can keep water hot in any type of weather, but depending on the demands of the house and the size of the water heater it may not be capable of providing enough water for the house. Another type of electric water heater of this type is known as an instant water heater. It does not have a container for the hot water, but instead provides instant hot water to one location. These can be cheaper to operate, but can not get hot water to more than one location in a house at a time. Electricity can sometimes be more expensive than natural gas to keep hot water depending on the kilowatt per hour rate in your area. Some of the newer electric water heaters have become more energy efficient by learning the hot water habits of the individuals living in the home and not keeping the water quite as hot in period with minimal hot water use.

The second type of hot water heater is a heat pump water heater. This works on the same technology as a heat pump for a house. It is much less costly than a electric water heater to operate. The main draw back to this type of water heater is that in extremely cold climates it has to fall back on standard electric element heating. In mild climates that do not get that cold it is probably the most efficient way to heat a house.

Are you looking to replace your old water heater with a new electric model? Call us at (860) 896-3342 and get started today!

What is an Electric Water Heater?

Written by

Things to know about electric water heaters

South Windsor Water Heater

An electric water heater is a water tank that uses an electrical heating system unit in order to heat the hot water instead of gas. It does this by using a thermostat and a resistance. It also has a built in isolation tank that keeps water temperature constant. Most electric water heaters have a water tank that is made out of titanium or magnesium anode. Of course, like any other water heater there is constant pressure on the water tank with hot water at the top of the tank.

Electric water heaters allow the user the option for continuously heating the water or choosing for the water to only be heated during the electric company’s denoted peak hours to help keep electrical prices down. Most machines have a life span of 12 to 15 years and are extremely reliable allowing hot water to always be ready in the amount that the water heater can hold.

Due to the fact that electric hot water heaters are very reliable it is not likely that much maintenance will have to be done. If water is acidic or hard in an area it may be a good idea to have a water heater expert look at the water heater from time to time to make sure that the electrical resistance is holding up. It also might be a good idea to empty the immersion tank from time to time.

There are generally two kinds of resistance that are used in an electric water heater depending on whether you have a soapstone or immersion heater. In immersion heaters the resistance is in the water which allows water to heat at a much faster pace. On the other hand, in the soapstone model the heating element is kept inside of a sleeve and at no point does it come in contact with water which means that it may not heat as fast but it is less likely to be effected by lime scale.

Ready to replace your old water heater with a new electric model? Call us at (860) 896-3342 and get started today!

How Does an Electric Water Heater Work?

Written by

What exactly is an electric water heater?

How Does an Electric Water Heater Work?An electric water heater requires little or no ventilation because it does not burn fuel as it operates, so it can be installed in almost any enclosed space in a home but it will need to be plugged into an electric power source. There are many parts inside of an electric water heater that make it function properly so proper and regular maintenance is essential. The inner shell is made of a heavy metal material (usually stainless steel) and is capable of holding from 40 to 60 gallons of water at one time. A glass liner located inside helps to keep rust from accumulating and an anode rod keeps corrosion from forming on the tank itself. The exterior is typically covered with insulation such as polyurethane foam and is then covered with a decorative outer shell. A water heater is able to separate the incoming cold water from the outgoing hot water based upon the principle that heat rises, and hot water naturally rises above the colder, denser water.

When you turn on your hot water faucet, the hot water immediately exits the tank through a pipe at the top of the tank called the heat-out pipe. Fresh, cold water then replaces it by entering the tank through a dip tube where it is then heated by one or two heating elements. The temperature of the water is regulated by a thermostat; each heating element inside the water tank usually has its own thermostat, depending on the make and model of your hot water tank. Drain valves are installed near the bottom of the tank’s exterior housing to allow the tank to be drained when either the heating elements need to be replaced, sediment may have accumulated and needs to be removed, or to replace or relocate the hot water tank. In addition, a pressure release valve is installed as a safety feature and keeps the hot water tank from exploding under high pressure.

Interested in replacing your old water heater with a new electric model? Call The Water Heater Medic, your water heater specialists at (860) 896-3342 to schedule an appointment with our friendly, knowledgeable staff .